At least build a suspension bridge, activist tells govt following news of Lundu boat tragedy

KUCHING (Aug 20): Social activist Peter John Jaban wants the government to construct at least a suspension bridge across Sungai Kayan in Lundu for Kampung Selampit villagers, particularly their children, to get to their school located at the other side of the river.

Peter was reacting to the news that three secondary school students were still missing after the boat they were travelling in with 15 other students sank in the river around 6am today.

Peter said he was aware of a proposal to build a concrete bridge across the river, but noted that till today there was no news of it being built.

“I hope the federal and Sarawak government view the matter seriously. Do not wait for things like this to happen again, as that would be too late,” he said.

He was also perplexed that after 61 years of Sarawak independence within Malaysia, there has been no action to address similar issues in other parts of Sarawak.

There were still cases of parents bringing their children to school by crossing rivers using boats and even rafts, he added, pointing out that sometimes water current can be rough and the water level deep, and there may be crocodiles in some rivers, posing danger to the villagers.